The team re-signed backup offensive tackle Winston Justice to a one-year deal Friday.

Justice gives the Broncos protection in case right tackle Orlando Franklin is moved to left guard in 2014. In that scenario, Justice would compete with Chris Clark for the starting right tackle position.

Clark primarily is a left tackle, but all-pro Ryan Clady returns after missing all but the first two games last season with a torn Lisfranc in his left foot.

Justice, 29, will enter his eighth NFL season. He has been a starter for three seasons — 2009-10 with Philadelphia and 2012 with Indianapolis — all at right tackle.

Earlier this season, the Broncos re-signed backup receiver Andre Caldwell. Otherwise, the Broncos opted not to bring back their bigger-name free agents such as Eric Decker, Zane Beadles, Knowshon Moreno, Wesley Woodyard and Shaun Phillips. Two other starters, Mike Adams and Robert Ayers, remain free agents.

The possibility of moving Franklin inside increased after the Broncos lost Beadles, their starting left guard the past four seasons, to free agency and a five-year, $30 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Broncos also tried to sign free-agent center Evan Dietrich-Smith, who wound up with Tampa Bay, with the idea of moving Manny Ramirez back to his natural guard position. The team also visited with center Will Montgomery, but didn't reach agreement.

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At this point, the Broncos' options to fill the left guard vacancy will be to draft a guard or center within the first three rounds, or move Franklin inside.

Franklin started at both left guard and left tackle for the University of Miami Hurricanes.

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